Lightweight isn’t the only division missing its champion right now.
Justin Gaethje became a two-time interim titleholder when he beat Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324, a matchup that came about due to the champ’s absence. Ilia Topuria had taken time away from the sport earlier in 2026 to address personal matters outside the Octagon.
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In another case, Tom Aspinall is also out of action, but for very different reasons. He needed surgery after suffering eye injuries from Ciryl Gane’s eye pokes last October.
There’s still no word on when the heavyweight champion will be back. In the meantime, one of the top contenders in his division is calling for the UFC to make a move.
Waldo Cortes-Acosta calls for interim title bout with Tom Aspinall still out
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Tom Aspinall has promised to get payback on Gane following the incidents at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi, but there’s no word yet on when that might happen.
While the division remains in limbo, Waldo Cortes-Acosta is pushing for action. After dominating Derrick Lewis at UFC 324, the Dominican contender is calling for an interim title shot.
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Cortes-Acosta spoke to Hablemos MMA, saying he wants a fight with either Alexander Volkov or Ciryl Gane:
“I want to fight (Alexander) Volkov or Ciryl Gane. They’re waiting,” said Cortes-Acosta. “I assume Tom Aspinall is not fighting anytime soon, so why not put an interim title in place?
“Whoever wins fights the champion, should they make the rematch between Ciryl Gane and Tom Aspinall. That would be good,” he added.
UFC heavyweight division has seen better days
There was a time when the heavyweight division was the main attraction in both boxing and MMA, featuring names like Stipe Miocic, Cain Velasquez, Junior dos Santos, and several other heavy hitters.
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But after what we saw at UFC 325, it’s hard to argue that those days haven’t faded away.
Tai Tuivasa’s sixth consecutive loss came in a sluggish bout against Tallison Teixeira. Both fighters looked exhausted early on and the action never picked up, reflecting how many heavyweight bouts feel these days.
The quality of fights outside of the top tier has noticeably dipped, with only a handful of fighters still offering high-level matchups.
This has led to increased calls from fans for the UFC to scrap the division altogether.
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